Recording mechanism.



W. SIMONSSON.

RECORDING MEOHANIQM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1910.

1 1 24,820. Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a -2- is" 3 i V r 5/ W Z5 g5 & INVENTOR w TVzZ/zeZvz 8271202255020 THENORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHING TON, D. Q

W. SIMONSSON.

RECORDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1910.

1,124,820. Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO'LITHO" WASHING TON, D C.

WILHELM SIMONSSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECORDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed May 21, 1910. Serial No. 562,737.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILHELM S1MoNss0N, a subject of the King of Sweden,residing in the city and State of New York, have invented certainImprovements in Recording Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in recording mechanisms,and more particularly in that class of such mecha nisms which areparticularly designed and adapted for use in connection with measuringinstruments of various kinds, and the like, for recording successiveoperations thereof, and the object of the invention is to provide amechanism of this general character of a simple and comparativelyinexpensive nature, and of a compact and strong construction not liableto become readily deranged or broken during use, having certain featuresof novelty and improvement whereby the recording function isaccomplished in an accurate and positive manner such as is designed toafford an effective safeguard against tampering or defective operationdue to carelessness or inattention upon the part of the attendant.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improvedrecording mechanism, whereby certain important advantages are attained,and the mechanism is rendered simpler, less expensive and more accurate,and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will behereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein Figure 1 is a view drawn upon a reduced scale, showingone embodiment of my improved recording mechanism in front elevation;Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the improvedrecording mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, the mechanism being viewed infront elevation upon an enlarged scale, and certain parts thereof beingomitted for lack of space; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken verticallythrough the recording mechanism; Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenhorizontally through the improved recording mechanism in the planeindicated by line 44 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewsomewhat similar to Fig. 3, but taken through the recording mechanism inthe plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlargedfrag mentary detail view. illustrating certain features of constructionof the releasable actuating means comprised in my improved recordingmechanism and which will be hereinafter referred to; Fig. 7 is adetached detail view showing a fragment of the record sheet shown in thepreceding views; and Fig. 8 is a detached detail view showing a keycapable of employment for controllably operating the recording mechanismconstructed as herein shown.

In these views, the measuring instrument to which I have shown myimproved recording mechanism applied for use, and which may be of anytype and designed for any desired use, is provided with an index memberor pointer 10 mounted for movement and actuated in such a manner thatits free extremity is adapted to traverse an are within a casing 11 ofgeneral rectangular form, affording a housing wherein the operativeparts of the improved recording mechanism are contained, and providedwith a sight aperture 12 at its forward part whereat the operation ofthe index member or pointer 10 may be viewed, there being a graduatedplate 14 extended across the upper part of said casing 11, over whichthe upper free extremity of said pointer 10 is adapted to play duringthe operation of the measuring instrument so as to indicate the resultthereof. So far as my present invention is concerned, however, the useof such a pointer or index member is immaterial, since the same affordsmerely one form of actuating connection for operating the recordingmechanism in unison with the operation of the instrument to which it isapplied for use.

The sight aperture 12 in the casing 11 for the recording mechanism isherein shown covered over with a glass plate or the like, and withinsaid casing, parallel with but spaced at the rear of said glass plate isextended a platen member 15, over which a record strip or tape a; isadapted to be fed in a vertical direction in such manner that the upperfree end of the index member or pointer 10 may play across its frontsurface during the operation of the measuring instrument, so as to standin position corresponding with the result of such operation to producerecord upon said tape or strip, the upper and lower parts of said platenmember 15 being rounded, as shown at 16, for the convenient travel ofthe rearwardly directed upper and lower end portions of the record stripor tape over them from a reel 17 and to a delivery device 18 located atthe rear part of the casing as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

As herein shown the record strip or tape 13 is provided withlongitudinal rulings m corresponding in relation with the spacing of themajor graduations of the plate 14, and also with intermediatelongitudinal rulings 00 which correspond in relative position with theminor or intermediate graduations of said plate 14. These rulings m and00 may obviously be differently colored or distinguished from each otherby index characters at intervals along the length of the tape or strip.It will be understood, however, that record strips or tapes of otherkinds and their equivalents may be employed without departure from theprinciples and spirit of the invention.

The free upper extremity of the pointer or index member 10 standsnormally at zero of the scale upon the plate 14, and below said plate14, said pointer 10 is bent rearwardly toward the platen 15, so as tostand closely adjacent to the exposed surface of the ruled record strip00, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, and at an appropriate point in itslength, said index member or pointer 10 is provided with a perforatingdevice or stylus 19 which is adapted to register, in such normalinactive position of the parts, with that one of the vertical orlongitudinal rulings m of the tape or strip 02 which corresponds inlocation and function with the zero graduation upon the plate 14. Duringthe movement of said pointer across the plate 14 in the operation of themeasuring instrument in connection with which the improved re cordingmechanism is used, it will be evident that this perforating device orstylus 19 will be caused to travel across the record sheet or strip atand by reason of the proportionate spacing of the rulings thereof withrespect to the graduations of the plate 14, said stylus will bepositioned at all times in registry with that one of the rulings m or mwhich corresponds with the particular graduation of plate 14 opposite towhich the upper extremity of the pointer stands. It will be evident thata pencil or other equivalent device may be substituted for the stylus. vI

As herein shown the pointer or index member 10 is possessed ofsufficient resili ence as to assure the retention of the stylus 19 outof contact with the exposed surface of the record tape or strip a:during the travel of said pointer across said tape or strip in theoperation of the measuring instrument, but permitting such rearwardmovement of the pointer or index member as is needful to permit itspoint or stylus 19 to be impressed upon the record strip or sheet insuch a manner as to record the successive operations of the measuringinstrument, and at the left hand side of the zero ruling x of said stripor tape 00, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7 the tape is provided with alongitudinally extended blank space or column 09 over which travels avertically directed ink ribbon 20, held at its upper and lower ends uponreels 21 and 22, and having its intermediate portion guided upon idlerrolls 23, 23, which operate to direct such intermediate part of the inkribbon downwardly over the front surface of the tape or strip 00 in linewith said blank space or column 00 thereof.

24 represents a type wheel mounted for rotatory adjusting movement in ayoke 25 comprising connected spaced arms pivotally supported at theirlower ends upon a bar or rod 26 extended transversely across the casing11, and held normally drawn forward from the platen 15 by means of aspring 27 in such a way that the printing surfaces 28, 28 of the typewheel 24 are prevented from contact upon the ink ribbon 20 which isinterposed between said printing surfaces of the type wheel and thefront surface of the record strip or tape 00, in such a manner that whensaid yoke 25 is swung rearwardly against the tension of its spring 27,one or another of the printing surfaces 28 of said type wheel, dependentupon the position to which the same shall have been primarily adjusted,will be pressed upon the ink ribbon in such a manner as to imprint suchsurface 28 upon the column 412 of the record tape or strip at.

The type wheel 24 is positioned for printing contact with the recordstrip or tape in substantial alinement with the point whereat the stylus19 is to be impressed upon said strip, so that while said point orstylus may be employed to record the total result of the operation ofthe measuring instrument to which the improved recording mechanism isapplied for use, the type wheel 24 may be employed to similarly recordupon said tape or strip the particular person in charge of the measuringinstrument at each individual operation thereof, and being capable ofemployment, by reason of it's adjustability, to print and'record differ-'ent numbers or other insignia upon said strip a: in case the attendantis changed so that the record strip may be employed to disclose theexact person in charge of the instrument at the time of any individualoperation thereof.

As stated above, the yoke or member 25 is operable to actuate both thepointer 10 to impress its stylus 19 upon the record strip and the typewheel 24, to press the printing characters 28 thereof upon said recordsheet or strip, and I have also shown means whereby a longitudinalfeeding movement of the record strip or sheet may be effected by themovement of this yoke or member 25, so that upon retraction thereof bythe spring after each recording impulse, a certain extent of movementmay be imparted to said strip a: to feed the same over the platen 15sufliciently to permit the succeeding operation of the measuringinstrument to be rccorded upon the strip at an appropriate distance fromthe precedent record. As shown herein, the means for accomplishing thislongitudinal feeding movement of said record strip comprises a dog 29connected with the yoke member 25 and engageable with the teeth of aratchet wheel 30 connected with one of the delivery rolls 18 so as toimpel said rolls to feed the strip endwise between them when the yokemember is retracted by its spring 27.

For controllably operating the yoke mem ber 25 against the tension ofits retracting spring 27 I have provided means including a shaft 31extended horizontally across the forward part of the casing in front ofthe yoke member and having its opposite ends mounted for rockingmovement in the ends of said casing, one end thereof being slottedtransversely in an axial direction as shown at so as to be adapted toreceive a key or controlling member 33 insertible at an aper tureappropriately located in the casing and adapted, when turned, tocommunicate its movement to rotate said shaft 31. In practice differentkeys will be issued to different attendants who may be from time to timein charge of the measuring instrument to which my improved recordingmechanism is applied, and these keys may be provided with wards or kerfsafter the fashion of keys for cylinder and other locks so as to preventthe operation of the recording mechanism except upon the insertion ofappropriately formed keys and thereby to guard against tampering withthe mechanism by unauthorized persons.

As shown in the drawings, the key 33 is provided with diametricallvopposite wards 34, and in the different keys for controllably actuatingthe recording mechanism these wards will be of graduated lengths, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and when said key 33 is inserted inposition within the casing as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and turned, thesewards 34 are adapted for engagement upon a tumbler 35, the lower endwhereof is guided upon the slotted end of shaft 31, while its upper endhas pivotal connection with one arm of a bell crank lever 36, fulcrumedat 37 and having an arm 38 provided with a segmental gear surfacemeshing with a pinion 39 connected with the type wheel 24, wherebyrotatory movement is imparted to said type Wheel by the upward movementimparted to the tumbler from the turning of the key in such a Way as tocause the appropriate printing surface of said type wheel to stand inposition to print upon the column 1: of the record strip when the yokemember 25 is pressed backward in the ensuing operation of the mechanismas will be presently explained. Since the upward movement of thetumbler, and the turning of the type Wheel 24 will be commensurate tothe projection of the wards 34 of the key inserted and turned in theeasing, it will be evident that the character printed upon the column 00of the record strip will serve to identify the person Whose key is usedin recording the operation of the measuring instrument.

l pon the end of the shaft 31 opposite to its slotted opening 32 issecured a disk member 40 having cam projections 41. 41 at diametricallyopposite sides, each of which affords a shoulder 41 at one side capableof engagement behind a pendent part 50 produced at the extremity of adog 42 fulerumed at -13 and adapted to prevent back rotation of saidshaft 31 while permitting the same to be turned freely in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 6. 44 represents a spring 01' equivalentyielding connection interposed between said disk member 40 and a similardisk member 45 secured upon one end of a sleeve 46 which mounted forturning movement upon the central portion of shaft 31, and is providedwith similar cam disks 47, 47 positioned in front of and in alinementwith certain of the vertically directed arms of the yoke member so as tobe capable of operation upon said yoke member through cam projections51. 51 carried upon said respective disks 47. 47, to press the yokemember rearwardiy so that the stylus 19 and type wheel 24 may beimpressed upon the record sheet or strip to produce a record of theresult of the operation of the measuring instrument to which theimproved recording mechanism is applied for use. as heretoforeexplained.

The disk member 45 is likewise provided with shoulders 48. 48diametrically opposite one another and capable of engagement with a dog#9 connected for movement in unison with the dog or detent 42, theconstruction and arrangement of the parts being such' that when the dog42 stands in lowered position as indicated in Fig. 6, permitting freeforward rotation of shaft 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow inthat figure,

the dog 49 connected therewith also stands in lowered position as shownin Fig. 5, and operates to prevent rotative movement of the sleeve 46wherewith the disk member 45 is connected during the initial rotatorymovement imparted by the key to the shaft 31 to rotate said disk member40 beneath the dog 42, so that such initial rotatory movement impartedto said shaft 31 operates upon the spring connection 44 to place thesame under tension as will be readily understood. The cam projections51, 51 upon the cam disks 47, 47 of the sleeve 46 are also diametricallyopposite each other, and the structure and arrangement of the parts issuch that in the normal inactive position of the mechanism one of thecam projections 31 of each cam disk 4? stands in position for engagementagainst the adjacent arm of the forwardly drawn yoke member 25 asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, so as to be operable to force the samerearwardly to impress stylus 19 and type wheel 24 upon the record sheetwhen said sleeve 46 is rotated under the influence of the inserted key,such rotative movement of said sleeve 46 being however, effectuallyprevented by the engagement of the lowered dog 49 with one of theshoulders 48 of the disk member 45. hen the key is inserted and turned,therefore, its initial turning movement operates to place the springconnection 44 under tension, while the sleeve 46 is held from turningmovement so that the yoke member 23 cannot be actuated, but as themovement of the shaft 31 under the influence of the key approaches ahalf revolution in extent, one of the inclined cam projections 41 on thedisk member 40 is caused to engage beneath the forwardly extendedpendent extremity 50 of the detent 42, so as to lift the same, and themovement of said detent being communicated to the dog 49, the latter isalso lifted out of engagement with the shoulder 48 of the disk member 45on sleeve 46 so that the spring connection 44 previously placed undertension as heretofore explained is caused to impart a sudden turningmovement to said sleeve 46 sufficient to cause the cam projections 31 ofthe cam disks 47. 47 to engage upon the yoke member 25 and force thelatter suddenly rearward to impress the stylus 19 upon the record sheetor strip to record the total result of he ope ation of the measuringinstrument to which the recording mechanism is applied for use. andsimultaneously to impress the appropriate impression surface of the typeuheel :54- upon said record strip to record the particular person incharge of the measuring instrument when the record made. After thisactuation of the parts, upon further turning movement of shaft 31. thedetent 42 again drops by gravity into locking engagement with theshoulder 41" of the cam projection 41 which operated to lift it, andsimultaneously the dog 49 drops into locking engagement with the othershoulder 48 of the disk member 45 of sleeve 46, so as to again lock thesleeve in its normal inactive position ready for renewed operation uponfurther forward turning of shaft 31 sufficient to tension the springconnection 44 and actuate the releasing mechanism above described. Meansmay obviously be provided for preventing withdrawal of the key beforethe completion of such part of a revolution of shaft 31 as may berequisite to return the locking devices to their normal inactivepositions. Such means may be similar to that provided for similarpurposes in locks of various kinds.

From the above description. it will be seen that the improved recordingmechanism constructed according to my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature, and is particularly welladapted for the purposes for which it is designed in assuring theeffective recording of the result of the operation of the measuringinstrument to which it is applied for use, and the identification of theattendant in charge of such instrument at the time the record isproduced, and it will also be obvious that the device is susceptible ofconsiderable modification without material departure from the principlesand spirit of the invention and for this reason I do not desire to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise formation and arrangementof the several parts of the mechanism herein set forth in carrying outmy invention in practice.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In mechanism of the character described, thecombination of a recording device adapted to produce a record upon a.record sheet and adapted to be controlled from a measuring instrument inconnection wherewith the mechanism is used, means for actuating saidrecording device operable to impress said device upon a record sheet,and releasable means cooperating with said actuating means forrestraining the record ing device from operation.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a deviceadapted to produce a record upon a record sheet and adapted to becontrolled from a measuring instrument in connection wherewith themechanism is used, means for actuating said recording device operable toimpress said device upon a record sheet and including relatively movablemembers having a connection adapted to be tensioned during movement ofone of such members, and releasable means for restraining the othermember of said actuating means during the tensioning of said connection.

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a deviceadapted to produce a record upon a record sheet and adapted to becontrolled from a meas' uring instrument in connection WhereWith themechanism is used, means adapted to be tensioned and capable ofoperation to actuate the recording device operable to impress saiddevice upon a record sheet, and means in controlling relation to theactuating means capable of operation first to place the same undertension and afterward to release the same.

i. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument a device capable of movement from a neutralposition to produce a record upon a record strip and controlled fromsaid measuring instrument, and key actuated means for actuating saidrecording device, and means for returning said recording device to itsneutral position after each operation.

5. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument a device capable of variable reciprocatory movementto produce a record upon a record strip and controlled from saidmeasuring instrul'nent, means adapted to be tensioned and capable ofoperation to actuate the recording device, and key actuated means incontrolling relation to said actuating means.

6. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument a device capable of variable reciprocatory movementto produce a record upon a record sheet and controlled from saidmeasuring instrument, means adapted to be tensioned capable of operationto actuate the recording device, means for restraining said actuatingmeans, and key controlled means in controlling relation to therestraining means.

7. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument a device capable of variable reciprocatory movementto produce a record upon a record sheet and controlled from saidmeasuring instrument, means adapted to be tensioned and capable ofoperation to actuate the recording device, and key controlled means incontrolling relation to the actuating means and capable of operationfirst to place the same under tension and afterward to release the same.

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument a device capable of variable reciprocatory movementto produce a record upon a record sheet, and controlled from saidmeasuring instrument, and key controlled means for actuating therecording device including relatively movable members having aconnection adapted to be tensioned during movement of one of the membersand operable to drive the other member.

9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a devicecapable of operation to produce a record upon a record sheet and adaptedto be controlled from a measuring instrument in connection ivhcrewiththe mechanism is used, means for actuating the recording deviceincluding relatively movable members having a connection adapted to betensioned during movement of one of the members, and key controlledmeans for restraining the other member of said actuating means duringthe tensioning of said connection.

10. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a devicecapable of variable reciprocatory movement to produce a record upon arecord sheet and adapted to be controlled from a measuring instrument inconnection \vhorewith the mechanism is used, means controlled from aplurality of keys operable to actuate said recording. device, and anauxiliary recording device adapted to be variably actuated from therespective keys.

11. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a devicecapable of variable reciprocatory movement to produce a record upon arecord sheet and adapted to be controlled from a measuring instrument inconnection \vhereivith the mechanism is used, plural means for actuatingsaid recording device, and an auxiliary recording device adapted to bevariably actuated from the several plural actuating means.

12. In mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination of adevice capable of variable reciprocatory movement to produce a recordupon a record sheet or the like and adapted to be controlled from ameasuring instrument in connection Wherevvith the mechanism is used, keycontrolled means for actuating the recording device, and an auxiliaryrecording device including a type \vheel having multiple impressionsurfaces and variably operated from said key controlled actuating means.

13. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument, a device for producing a record upon a recordsheet controlled from the operation of the measuring instrument,manually controlled means for actuating said recording device operableto impress said device upon a record sheet or the like, and an auxiliaryrecording device also controlled from said actuating means.

14. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ameasuring instrument, a device for producing a record upon a recordsheet controlled from the operation of the measuring instrument, meansIn Witness whereof I have hereunto signed for actuating sald recordlngdevice operable my name 1n the presence of two subscribmg to lmpresssald device upon a record sheet witnesses.

or the like, variable means in controlling re- WILHELM SIMONSSON. lationto said actuating means, and an aux- Witnesses:

iliary recording device actuated from said K. R. MARKEY,

variable controlling means. W. E. LAWSON.

copiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent! Washington, D. G.

